Public sunscreen dispensers coming to Wellesley

The Wellesley Department of Public Works has just received two sunscreen dispensers from the Melanoma Foundation of New England that it plans to install at yet-to-be-determined locations for the public’s use.

The non-profit Foundation is expanding its Practice Safe Skin program to 54 new locations in 12 states, providing 190 free sunscreen dispensers for public use. “We hope sunscreen dispensers will become as commonplace as hand sanitizers over the next few years,” said Foundation executive director Deb Girard, in a statement.

Each sunscreen dispenser is equipped with four 1000 mL bags of sunscreen (670 applications per bag) and contains an all-natural blend of 6% zinc and 6% titanium SPF-30 sunscreen, safe for people aged 6-months and up. Ingredients are printed on the machines upon installation.

Melanoma is rising faster than any other cancer, with one person every 50 minutes dying from the disease, according to the Foundation.

Comments

The organization’s website says the replacement sunscreen cases cost $200 and lasts about 2700 pumps. Has the town of Wellesley budgeted for/committed funding to keep these pumps filled once the initial complementary case(s) run out?